On Was Brought

I remember when I was in middle school (really dating myself here), every girl in class was obsessed with this movie. And because I was unpopular and slightly bitter, I wrote it off. God. Cheerleaders? How can you make a movie about cheerleaders anything but vapid and obnoxious? What's this movie even about? Getting boyfriends on the football team? Who needs another movie pandering to young teenaged girls about girly crap?

Turns out this movie's actually about artistic integrity, how to cultivate true leadership qualities, and becoming an independent adult who faces problems head on.

What?

Yeah, this movie has its share of girly situations, but what it NEVER does is pander. Instead it gives our main characters credibility by giving their issues weight and gravity. Their hard work is recognized, their struggles are relatable, and they are never talked down to by the writers or the audience. It sounds so easy, but it's very difficult to pull off, especially in 2000 with a movie about high-school girls.

So yeah, I'm glad I never saw this movie when I was younger. Because now, along with good film sense and years of experience, I can drink alcohol. And thank God I was never a cheerleader.